Update, Friday at 5:45 p.m.: Update: Police are continuing the investigation into the firing of a bullet that smashed through a window at Public Eat & Drink restaurant on Thursday afternoon. The bullet traveled through the eatery, which was busy with patrons at the time, and struck a woman eating her lunch. The woman was not seriously injured and did not require treatment.

 

Police Director Michael Cozzaglio wrote in an email on Friday that the shot may have been aimed at a traffic light at the intersection of Holden, Center and Route 2.

 

"It would seem as though someone may have shot at the traffic light, which is in front of the restaurant window," he said. "The shot missed the traffic light and went through the window."

 

However, the shot is still considered to be a random incident that was not directed at any individual or at the restaurant or building. 

 

Anyone with information about the shooting, which occurred at about 2:40 p.m. on Thursday in the vicinity of the artery is asked to contact North Adams Police. The scene was processed by state police investigators from the crime scene and ballistics divisions.

 

"We want to thank the management and staff at Public restaurant for their cooperation through this investigative process," Cozzaglio said.

 

The restaurant was closed Thursday evening but reopened for regular business on Friday.

 

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police are investigating a shot fired through a window at Public Eat & Drink restaurant on Thursday afternoon. 

 

No one was seriously injured in the incident that was reported about 2:46 p.m.but the restaurant was closed for the evening, according to a sign posted on the door. 

 

Police Director Michael Cozzaglio said the area was being treated as a crime scene and that state police Crime Scene Services and ballistics had been called in to process the scene. 

 

The investigators will try to determine the trajectory of the bullet and where it might have originated. The bullet did graze or touch one of the customers, he said.

 

"A woman had minor injuries to her head, very minor," he said, adding that she had declined treatment. "She was just sitting down having lunch."

 

The shot came through the top of the farthest west of the three windows on the Center Street side of the corner restaurant. Police blocked off the entrance into the parking lot on that side and ran yellow tape to prevent anyone from getting near the side of the building or the public way next to it. 

 

Employees were still in the restaurant and some patrons were exiting the eatery shortly before 5 p.m. 

 

Cozzaglio said police know where the bullet entered the building, where the woman was sitting and where it ended up. What's not known is the origin of the bullet, its path inside the building and whether it might have ricocheted.

 

Police will be checking to see if there are any security cameras that might provide a clue as to what occurred. Cozzaglio said it appears, at least at this point, that it was a random shot and not intentional in regard to the restaurant. 

 

"There's nothing to lead us to believe that there's anything directly related to Public," he said.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city woman helped her elderly neighbor after a water pump overheated and filled her Parkside Avenue home with smoke.

 

According to residents on scene, the woman who lives at 148 Parkside Ave. fled the home after smoke filled the first floor. A neighbor saw her, ran over and helped her get away. She then called 911.

 

The Fire Department arrived shortly after and began searching for the potential fire. Ultimately the department determined that it was an overheated pump that began filling the home with smoke.

 

Firefighters ventilated the home and paramedics on scene evaluated the older woman. 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, March 21.

 

Clinton Jennings, 34, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute -  his second offense. 

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $2,000 bail. The charge stems from an incident in Pittsfield on February 2, 2018.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, March 22.

 

Mike Bedford, 42, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to a single count of armed robbery while masked.

 

He was ordered to serve seven to eight years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction.

 

Bedford held up the Greylock Federal Credit Union branch on North Street in Pittsfield on December 20, 2015.

 

Terrence Gibbons, 32, of Springfield pleaded guilty to single counts of trafficking in cocaine, possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense - conspiracy to violate drug laws, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to stop for a police officer in connection with a motor vehicle stop in Lenox on February 26, 2015.

 

He also pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws between January 20, 2015 and March 6, 2015.

 

He was ordered to serve concurrent six to six and a half years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the trafficking, possession of heroin, and conspiracy charges. He was given concurrent time at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the motor vehicle charges.

 

Two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws were dismissed by the state.

 

Terance Harris, 38, of Springfield pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, and single counts of trafficking in cocaine and possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense in connection with a motor vehicle stop in Lenox on February 26, 2015.

 

He was ordered to serve concurrent five to seven years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction.

 

Two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws were dismissed by the state.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Friday, March 23.

 

Christopher Root, 43, of Pittsfield was found guilty of two counts of rape and abuse of a child aggravated by an age difference, and a single count of indecent assault and battery on a person who has attained age 14.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail until sentencing.

 

The charges stem from incidents in Pittsfield between August 1, 2014 and December 9, 2014. The victim is a girl who is not 19 years old.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, March 26.

 

Joshua Muhammad, 40, of New York City had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on three counts of distribution of heroin, two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, and a single count of distribution of cocaine. 

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $50,000 bail. Muhammad is accused of selling heroin and cocaine between July 13, 2011 and August 3, 2011.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, March 28.

 

Tarrin Daniels, 33, of North Adams had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - his second offense.

 

He was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in North Adams on January 18, 2018.

 

Andrew Gombar, 34, of Chatham, N.Y. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of assault with intent to commit rape and assault and battery.

 

He was released on $15,000 bail. The charges stem from an incident in Great Barrington involving a 19-year-old woman on January 7, 2018.

 

Nicole Pinero, 29, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

 

She was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at her home on February 2, 2018.

 

Anthony Serrano, 24, of Springfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of drugs and operating negligently, and operating under the influence of drugs causing serious personal injury and operating negligently.

 

He was released on personal recognizance.

 

Serrano is accused of being the operator of a motor vehicle which struck another vehicle in Windsor on April 24, 2017. Daron Reynolds, 31, was killed in the crash and a 28-year-old woman suffered serious injuries.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, March 29.

 

Carey Pilot, 45, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on two counts of armed assault with intent to murder.

 

She was ordered to be held at the Hampden County House of Correction without bail. The charges stem from an incident in Pittsfield on October 2, 2017. Pilot is accused of attempting to harm a 38-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman.

 

Henri Caudle, 23, of Holyoke pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin and possession of cocaine.

 

He was placed on probation for one year. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at 144 Brayton Hill Terrace in North Adams on December 6, 2016.

 

Single counts of illegal possession of a large capacity weapon, illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device, possession of a large capacity firearm during the commission of a felony, improper storage of a large capacity firearm, conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card were all dismissed by the state.

 

James Swift, 57, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of assault and battery on a disabled person and caretaker abuse on a disabled person.

 

He was given concurrent six-month sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction. Swift assaulted a student while employed at Eagleton School on January 1, 2016.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The body of a Pittsfield man missing since Saturday was found Monday afternoon in Hancock.

 

Investigators say the death of 66-year-old Dan Lewis does not appear to be suspicious.

 

Pittsfield Police received a 911 call shortly after 4 p.m. saying a person had been found unresponsive about a quarter mile past the locked gate at the end of West Street. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found the body of Lewis, who was reported missing Saturday evening.

 

He was last seen on video surveillance walking west on East Street in front of Berkshire Mazda at 9:05 p.m. on Saturday, and near a home at the intersection of Dalton and Plastic avenues. It was theorized he may have been heading to Stephentown, N.Y., where he had previously lived, or Hinsdale, where he grew up.

 

The investigation is being conducted by state police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office and by members of the Pittsfield Police Department.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Police are asking residents to stop sharing an image from Facebook with a sarcastic message about school shootings. 

 

According to a post on the department's Facebook page, the message is not directed at Pittsfield but rather Pittsfield, N.H.

 

"For the past 24-plus hours we have been inundated by messages with this image," the post states. "We followed up upon receiving the first message and it was immediately clear this was NOT Pittsfield MA." 

 

The message stated "whoever plans on shooting up a school next, please pick Pittsfield. Thank you." The post by the girl was accompanied by a smiley face with a halo. 

 

The Concord (N.H.) Monitor reported on Thursday that a student was banned from the Pittsfield Middle High School in New Hampshire while what police described as a threat was being investigated. The post was apparently made on the student's Facebook page sometime Tuesday.  

 

Pittsfield, Mass., Police noted that the authorities in Pittsfield, N.H., are aware of the post. 

 

"PLEASE stop sharing this image as it is only creating mass confusion in and around our community. We understand the reason why people have shared but PLEASE STOP. Thank you," the police asked.